Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

I do not believe there is a problem because he has lived outside the country for 30 years. Where are we going? This man has kept in regular touch with the country. He is a leader in his field. He has done so much to the direct the focus of corporate America which has resulted in the creation of jobs in this country. It is time some of those sending barbs in his direction, especially people involved in the media, copped on. In that context, I call on the Leader to allocate time for a debate on the Diaspora. Let us get out in the open exactly how the House believes we should harness the Niall O'Dowds of this world. There has been so much positivity. Brian Cowen set up the emigrants task force in 2002 which resulted in several million euro of taxpayers money going to good causes in all the places to which Senator Mark Daly referred. A global network was created as a result of the event at Farmleigh, an initiative that came initially from Mr. David McWilliams